Weekly comments from Dale Martin

Dale Martin
City Manager
Fernandina Beach
October 11, 2019

The 2019/20 budget has been reviewed and approved. The City Commission deserves significant credit for shepherding the budget through the process, most notably for its unanimous consent throughout the process, especially the dedicated funding for land conservation, which continues to be the most pressing community concern.

The City has pledged that the approximately $1.2 million of revenue generated from the one-time half-mill conservation levy would be transferred to the City’s Land Conservation Fund and restricted for use solely for land conservation acquisition activities. Although the tax revenues from this additional millage will not begin to flow into City coffers until later this year as tax payments are made, Ms. Testagrose, City Comptroller, informed the City Commission that with sufficient funds in the City’s reserve, she will immediately transfer $1.2 million to the Land Conservation Fund so that funds are available for the City Commission to continue its land conservation efforts. The reserve funds will be replenished through the expected tax revenues.

The City, working with the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), is close to completing the acquisition of three properties intended for conservation. The acquisition process started several months ago, and with the completion of appropriate environmental assessments and title work, all three properties are ready for final closings. Some funding for the purchases will be provided by the NFLT, other funding from a generous donation from another trust fund (funding to be formally presented at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting), and the aforementioned City funding. Additional contributions to support land conservation efforts from other organizations or individuals can be directed to the City: to date, $50 has been donated.

Further discussions are ongoing with representatives of the NFLT regarding several other properties. The NFLT will also soon commence a capital campaign with the goal of raising $4 million to support conservation efforts on Amelia Island, not just within the city limits. With the City’s financial commitment toward conservation, it will be incumbent for other agencies and organizations to demonstrate a financial commitment to support these efforts if the NFLT campaign is to succeed.

The new budget includes efforts other than conservation, though. Almost $7.5 million is allocated for capital projects (and related debt service). While approximately $2 million of that amount is anticipated as loan revenue (for City Hall acquisition/renovation efforts and a fire truck purchase), the bulk of the remaining funds are impact fees ($3.4 million) and property taxes ($1.8 million).

The capital budget includes increased funding for streets and sidewalks. The streets funding follows a pavement assessment report completed last year, which reviewed all improved streets within the City (and at least accounted for unimproved streets), assigning a score to segments of each street. Using these scores, City staff will be able to prepare a long-term maintenance plan for City streets, implementing the most beneficial maintenance techniques to extend the life of the street. The recent paving of the Lakewood area was, in part, the first effort associated with the results of the pavement assessment. The long-term street plan will be prepared later this year.

Included in this new budget, although not as a capital expenses, is a similar assessment for the City’s sidewalks. This assessment will enable City staff to direct efforts, both financial and personnel, to areas most in need as objectively determined by the assessment.

Other significant capital expenditures are directed toward recreational facilities, the beaches, and the cemetery. For some of those expenditures, grant funding from the State or other agencies will supplement City tax revenues.

The rebuilding efforts at the Marina continue. Although the construction efforts are visible and exciting, the behind the scenes struggle with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are perhaps the most frustrating discussions that I have encountered with a government agency throughout my career. After two cost estimates prepared by FEMA staff in 2017 and 2018, FEMA officials have indicated that a third estimate will be required. Despite extensive Congressional support from Rep. John Rutherford, former Senator Bill Nelson, and current Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, FEMA officials seem to be trolling for a reason to minimize or reject funding for the project. I encourage everyone to reach out to those legislators and urge them to continue their efforts to support the Marina.

With the 2019/20 budget completed, City staff will now begin work on the 2020/21 budget. Thank you for your support.